Hugo's - Cliff Island

Hugo's is a really special place in Portland. Although the city is bursting with amazing restaurants, they still manage to be unique and cutting-edge. I will fully admit that I have had some dishes here that simply don't work for me but that is part of the fun of dining at a restaurant that is constantly trying to innovate. And the dishes that I didn't care for are clearly outweighed by the majority that I found wonderful over the course of my half dozen meals here. This is not to mention the absolute top-notch service you can expect at a real fine dining establishment like those sporting fancy Michelin stars. I always felt extremely welcomed and catered to whenever visiting them. A particular reason that Hugo's has a fond place in my heart is that they served me one of the handful of dishes I've had that not only was incredible but actually changed the way I thought about food and what it could be. Around five years ago I shared a large-format ribeye steak with five other people that changed my life. My stomach was already so miserably/joyfully full by the time it was served. The fact that this juicy, fatty, umami-filled piece of meat was good enough that I still managed to eat another half pound of food and love every bite speaks to just how awesome it was. As you can tell I'm passionate about a good steak and since then I've learned to make one (almost) as good as that but it was still enough to keep me coming back time and time again.

Hugo's in Portland consistently offers amazing cuisine. We were impressed with the baked monkfish tail, which was served with sunchokes and kimchi. The salad and appetizers were also fantastic. The service here is always exceptional. This is the top spot to dine in Portland.

The food was beautiful and delicious, the service was awesome, and the environment was great.

This restaurant is excellent in every way - from its diverse and inventive menu to its exceptional wine selection. While it may be on the pricier side, the experience is well worth it.

Very sparse vegetarian offerings. Service was not well coordinated. Cocktails delayed resulting in dinner served before finishing. Wine served near immediately after cocktails. Desserts served (small tablespoon ice cream) well before coffee that was like warm. Personnel very pleasant.